Many cultures and religions have the concept of a spiritual bath. The basic idea is usually related to the symbolism of renewal of the spirit along with the cleansing of the body. Sometimes spiritual baths can have a very specific purpose, and in some cultures, they can be used as a kind of spell-casting or prayer. The methods and rituals related to spiritual baths vary significantly from one tradition to another.
The idea behind these beliefs is often related to the way water can remove the buildup of bad spiritual energy that accumulates over time. Some people believe that encounters with negative people and harsh experiences leave behind a spiritual trace that may linger and cause bad feelings or depression. By performing the spiritual bath correctly, these people believe that they can remove this "sludge" and renew their spirit. There is also a belief that a spiritual bath may cleanse a person of sin or wash away the residue of evil deeds, allowing a person to start over.
In some religions, such as Wicca, a spiritual bath can have very specific purposes based on the way the bath is performed. There are spiritual baths designed to bring a person romance or ward off bad luck. Some spiritual baths are believed to help rid a person of a hex or bring wealth into someone's life. In many cases, these baths have specific rituals and prayers that must be performed. Sometimes there are special herbs that must be sprinkled into the water along with oils and other ingredients. It’s also fairly common for special crystals to be used in a spiritual bath.
For certain traditions, it is very important to use special water. There is also a belief that washing in a certain way can change the effects of the bath. For example, washing in an upward motion can draw in positive things, and washing downwards can ward off negativity. Some people believe that special chants or prayers may be repeated continually during the bath. The timing may be very crucial, as well, and sometimes baths must be performed before dawn or just after the sun sets.
Historically, many cultures have had rituals based on the cleansing power of water. Christians have baptism, and Jewish people have a ritual called the mikvah. Hindu Brahmins are required to cleanse their bodies before walking into certain sacred buildings, and many Native American cultures also have rituals directly related to the spiritual use of water.